Free-agent right-hander Matt Sauer signed a minor-league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday that includes an invite to major-league spring training, according to a source. The 25-year-old was a big-league Rule 5 pick of the Kansas City Royals last year and was originally the New York Yankees' second-round selection back in 2017. The 25-year-old made the Opening Day roster for the Royals and appeared in 14 games out of the bullpen for KC. He wasn't very good in his MLB debut, though, allowing 14 earned runs on 23 hits while walking 11 and striking out nine in 16 1/3 innings pitched. Sauer was eventually returned to the Yankees and wasn't much better in 32 1/3 frames at Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with a 6.12 ERA. It's possible the Dodgers will look to move him back into a starting role as minor-league depth.
New York Yankees pitching prospect Matt Sauer, a California native, was selected in the second round of the 2017 draft. A top prep pitching prospect at the time, the right-hander overcame Tommy John surgery, found his way to Double-A, and is coming off a pair of phenomenal performances amidst a solid season. The 23-year-old has a mid-90s fastball that touches 97 mph, certainly his best pitch. He also has a nasty slider with above-average horizontal bite, as well as a fading changeup that complements his heater nicely. Sauer absolutely stole the show in the minors this past week, delivering an eight-inning outing in which he struck out a whopping 17 batters. (Yes, you read that right. Seventeen.) Sauer allowed one run on two hits and zero walks along the way. This was his fourth outing at the Double-A level and his second consecutive with double-digit strikeouts; he had fanned 11 batters through 5.2 innings in his previous outing. Clearly, Sauer has good strikeout stuff and could have instant fantasy intrigue when he reaches the majors, perhaps as soon as 2023.
Matt Sauer
• RP
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Dodgers
